Thread by @The_Gilp

I was recently asked to give on talk on lessons learned in academic science. I am sharing the nuts and bolts of it here. These are the opinions of 1 person based on the experiences of 1 person. They are not universal or comprehensive. Feel free to add your own.

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Preamble: These are not "keys to success" in academia. Many external forces & circumstances impact career trajectory. But specific strategies can help mitigate or leverage the impact of these external forces.

More preamble: Success can be defined in many ways. As I went through this process, I thought about 1) benchmarks used by scientists, 2) benchmarks used by employers, 3) being a good colleague up, down & laterally, 4) work-life balance & 5) personal wellbeing.

1. Work efficiently.
-When you are working, work hard. This is not the same as “being at work.”
-View your time as your most valuable resource. Protect it and allocate it accordingly.

2. Unplug.
-When you are not working, do not obsess about work.
-Avoid feeling guilty about working and also avoid feeling guilty about not working.
-Accept there is no “end” to your to-do list.
-Establish which modes of communication do & do not require immediate response.

3. Leverage technology.
-Use Google Slack, reminders & notifications.
-Get on the Twitter (preaching to the choir here).
-Put things on the calendar in real time. It frees up mental space.
-Try apps aimed at improving efficiency.

4. Know yourself.
-Know your inclinations, limitations & preferences.
-When reasonable, outsource the parts of your job you are least “good at” if others have those strengths.

5. Have a plan.
-Better yet, have a few. Understand what is needed to achieve that plan.
-Know the competitive landscape.
-Have a philosophy about life & work. One should not conflict with the other.
-Have a philosophy about managing people.

6. Be deliberate in your communication with others.
-Communicate frankly without being confrontational, diplomatically & in real time.
-Nip things in the bud early before they snowball.

7. Be flexible.
-One size does NOT fit all for funders, grants, courses & colleagues.
-Think creatively about ways to achieve a specific goal.
-Do not put yourself inside an imaginary box that limits you.
-Abandon strategies that don’t work!

8. Be picky.
-Say NO to some things so you can YES to other things.
-If you are passionate about a topic, become a leader in that area. Invest your time in what you enjoy rather than what you are assigned. Find like-minded individuals and resources to support your initiative.

9. Network.
-Like it or not, networking is an essential component of scientific success. Use conferences to meet people. Meet with speakers when they visit your institution.
-Peers in your cohort will be your critics, your competition & your support system as you advance.

10. Be a squeaky wheel
-You cannot receive what you do not ask for.
-Others cannot read your mind if you are unhappy or want something.
-You can't get blood from a stone. Recognize that different situations call for different strategies.